“The government of Uganda has beefed up measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus by putting the country on a lockdown. . . all border crossing points/entry points were closed. All schools, universities, and other tertiary institutions were closed at least for a period of 30 days. Public transport means such as buses, taxi commuters, and motor cyclist for passenger services, all were suspended from conducting business. Shopping arcades have been closed with the exception of stores that trade in food items and other consumables.”
This sounds so familiar – right? He could be talking about life in Northeastern Ohio at present. Though more than a half a world away, the Ugandans are battling the same things we are at present. We are not so different. We are all vulnerable to sickness, disease, and isolation. This virus has taken us all by surprise. No one the world over is left unaffected by it.
Sempa Don goes on to say, “The situation is really getting worse in a young country where almost 78% of the population is under the age of 30. Uganda has the world’s youngest population with just under eight million youth aged 15-30, the country also has one of the highest unemployment rates in the sub-Saharan Africa.”
While the coronavirus has touched and affected life in Northeast Ohio as well as in Uganda – the situation for many in Uganda is different in that so many of the Ugandan people – think of the students we serve and their families – live in severe poverty all the time. The virus has just made their situation worse - bleaker and less hopeful. Also, let us not forget there are many people especially children whose home is the streets of Kampala. Where can they go to escape exposure to the virus?
Let us keep in prayer all in our St. Kizito Family – the children we serve and their families; the people who work for the St. Kizito Foundation in Uganda, as well as the volunteers who work for the benefit of the St. Kizito Foundation here in Northeast Ohio. And, of course, let us not forget the benefactors of the St. Kizito Foundation who make all good things possible in the lives of the children we serve.
